On Wednesday afternoon, a strong earthquake shook north-central Venezuela, west of the capital Caracas, causing significant damage. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first quake, magnitude 7.1, struck at a depth of 13 km, about an hour west of Valencia. Moments later, a second earthquake of magnitude 7.5 hit, at a depth of 10 km, with its epicenter 16 km southwest of Morón.
Many Venezuelans were at home when the first quake struck, as they were observing a national holiday commemorating a military victory in 1821 that secured the country's independence from Spain. In Caracas, residents rushed to evacuate as buildings shook violently.
Maria Romero, 80, a retired woman living in southern Caracas, said police helped her escape her building. “This earthquake was terrifying, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said. Fire trucks were out on Caracas streets, and the facades of several buildings were severely damaged. Many residents lost power or internet connectivity immediately after the quake.
A witness in Valencia, west of Caracas, reported cracks forming on their apartment walls, shattered glass at the entrance, and an immediate power outage. Another witness recounted: “Many walls in my building are cracked or broken apart. As soon as the shaking stopped, my husband and I evacuated.”
Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, announced that the quake was felt in multiple states, and the Altamira neighborhood of Caracas recorded “alarming situations” with many homes and buildings collapsed. He urged residents to stay outside because aftershocks could cause further damage, and asked drivers to yield to ambulances and emergency vehicles. On state television, Cabello said: “We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are following procedures to activate relief efforts and rescue those who need it most. Please be extremely careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one is injured.”
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued and later canceled tsunami warnings for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands after the quake. Also on Thursday, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Iwate region at a depth of 50 km, but no major damage was immediately reported.
